Colin McRae a legend remembered 6 years on

Twice winner of the British Rally Championship, in 1995 McRae became the youngest ever World Rally Champion in a Pro-Drive prepared Subaru WRX.

Australia was to first see Colin’s flamboyant driving at Rally Australia of 1995 where he finished 2nd on his first attempt.

In 1996 he returned to Rally Australia finishing fourth and in 1997 driving the new World Rally Car- Subaru Impreza WRC, he won Rally Australia outright.

Colin returned to Australia once more in a Subaru in 1998 before switching to Ford, driving a Focus WRC from 1999 to 2002.

His highest (and only) finish at Rally Australia with Ford was in 2001 where he finished 5th. A change to Citroen in 2003 saw McRae sideways in red Xsara WRC on the ball bearing gravel stages of Western Australia where he finished 4th.

Colin’s last appearance rally driving in Perth was in 2005, this time behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia WRC. Running in 3rd place and inline for a podium finish, it was service that would prove to be the team’s undoing. On the last day, within sight

of the finish of the rally the Fabia required a scheduled clutch change. Unfortunately there were problems during the allotted service and the team could not complete the task within the time limits. McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist were forced to retire from the rally and what would have been Skoda’s best result at a World Championship event.

2005 was the last time McRae would grace Australian stages.

On September 15th 2007, McRae was flying his helicopter with his young son and two friends when the aircraft crashed not far from his family home in Scotland.